[Jim Mac]

So, who's buying a GT?

EDIT: Aluminum, that is.

 

[HAB]

They stayed homebase this winter like the old days. That's what Rachel said in one her interviews.

Ah, okay. I missed that.

 

[Drth Vadr]

gwin should have been more precise in the off season testing when getting on the demo. the legend nico wouldn't have rolled that way if it's even really the route of the problem (bike size,tracks,etc.).

I think that's called arrogance. lol

So, who's buying a GT?

EDIT: Aluminum, that is.

I wanted one after the latest testing video came out just before Fort Bill. Kind of sucks now because the price is going hold steady and the demand maybe high.

 

[Cant Climb]

Ah, okay. I missed that.

Looks like sicker riding where they are in Whales. But probably those winters in SOCal went a long way to building themselves into a powerhouse brand.

 

[Mo(n)arch]

Wasn't the Demo aluminum when Hill started with Spec? Much easier to build custom length stays for an aluminum frame than a carbon one though I imagine if anyone had the resources to do so it would be Spec or Trek.

The stays are still aluminium on the demo. Six stays cost too much in carbonz
Seriously though, I saw a pic of Gwin with his bike in the off season where you could see a number (length?) written on the chainstay. I assume he was testing different chainstay lengths.
A possible difference is the approach of Whiteley how to manage a team I think. I am pretty sure he and his team analyzes every little thing, from bike setup, skills of the rider, etc. This scientific approach may helped Gwin to be the Gwinner he was the last two seasons.
Now it looks like this professionalism works for Brook too. In Ft. Bill he was absolutely stunning in the technical sections, but unbelievable on the motorway while pedalling.
What I want to say is that TWR does everything to improve their riders and works with them on their problems.

And if Brook didn't crash, he might have been on the podium again.

Not sure how this is handled by the Specialized.

I distinctly remember the first time I got the wind knocked out of me. I was playing catch with my dad in our front yard, and he decided to pretend to slide into a base as I covered it, and proceeded to completely knock me on my ass. He's about 6'5", 210lbs, and I was about 6. I thought I was dying.

I remember just one case particular: Playing soccer with my friends at the age of 8 I wanted to catch the ball in the air but missed it. The bad thing was I wanted to hit the ball so hard, the momentum made me fall on my back right on the already landed ball. I couldn't catch my breath for an eternity. At one point I already foamed (can I write that?!). Once I got to breathe again I looked at my mates and they were absolutely shocked. Like frozen into stone and painted white shocked.

Half an hour later I was playing again like nothing happened.

Kids are tough mofos...

 

[bizutch]

Wow. Why so much hate for Gwin based a 1.5 second screen clip of him after the race?

I'm not gonna hate on ANY world cup racer because they're all faster than the fastest guy I know. Flat out.

FYI, Luca Shaw was 3rd in Juniors in only his 2nd World Cup. Ballzr!!!

Edit: Time would have been good for TOP 25 Seniors

 

[Cant Climb]

I just think Gwin's suspension looks horrible. Thought bike looked skittish in FW but didn't want to rush judgement. Maybe the super hard Fox 40 isn't working on that frame.

He'll go to Mammoth and test....alot.......hopefully.

 

[big-ted]

lol at all the speculation in this thread. Let me throw my somewhat boring piece in: With all the delays in getting Gwinn's contract sorted, maybe there just wasn't time to do as much testing, get custom back ends made up, etc before the season started?

 

[DH Dad]

I just think Gwin's suspension looks horrible. Thought bike looked skittish in FW but didn't want to rush judgement. Maybe the super hard Fox 40 isn't working on that frame.

He'll go to Mammoth and test....alot.......hopefully.

Didn't that first year Sam struggled he camped out at MSE for weeks before the WC and got himself a win there. Maybe Gwin should do the same.

I doubt longer stays are the solution but who knows, bike was designed around a specific CS length. Never ridden one but am guessing the Demo would work great for me with the short stays but I don't ride anywhere near those speeds. I'll have to pay attention and see if there are tons of Demos for sale now

 

[bizutch]

I'd like to again mention my totally random and baseless theory about WHO you ride with. Anybody got a list of the events and results of the top 5-10 World Cup riders leading up to the World Cups this year?

 

[OGRipper]

lol at all the speculation in this thread. Let me throw my somewhat boring piece in: With all the delays in getting Gwinn's contract sorted, maybe there just wasn't time to do as much testing, get custom back ends made up, etc before the season started?

That stuff was figured out months and months ago. Companies much smaller than Specialized can make a complete aluminum proto/mule in a couples days or less if they need to. The big "S" should be able to punch out some new stays before the daily lunch ride. And I assume that at this point he's got the ear of his suspension guys whenever he wants.

Maybe location more than time. Gwin has noted how great it is to have all his sponsor bros right there in SoCal, making it easier for him to test product and train.

I don't really know what he did in prior years, but maybe he should go hit up some trails in Wisconsin.

 

[atrokz]

Maybe, just maybe, some other guys stepped up and made the changes they needed to get even faster. Maybe it's not that Gwin got slower, but that a few guys got faster?

Kinda like how some pro racers stepped it up when Hill was raising the bar....

 

[stiksandstones]

Gee's times at Fort William and Val Di Sole were not on pace with Gwin's last year. Yes, tracks have subtle changes, but pretty similar. To say Gee stepped it up is a little strange, I assume Gee is one of the most militant training dudes out there, for years.

Ah well, just glad no one got wrecked this year.

Signed,
One of Gwins proud sponsors.

Maybe, just maybe, some other guys stepped up and made the changes they needed to get even faster. Maybe it's not that Gwin got slower, but that a few guys got faster?

Kinda like how some pro racers stepped it up when Hill was raising the bar....

 

[atrokz]

So maybe the D3 is slowing him down. Is that what you're saying, Stik?????


In reality, I have no idea what the reasons are, but I do know Ft William has had a few actual reroutes, so curious to know if meters got added and if it's slower, etc.

All just speculation at this point. It must be the D3. I'm selling mine.

 

[tabletop84]

Gee's times at Fort William and Val Di Sole were not on pace with Gwin's last year. Yes, tracks have subtle changes, but pretty similar.

Ft. William was a wet-race if I recall it correctly and vds-course had a totally new (uphill) part innit this year and Gee was 2 secs off the pace of gwins last year and over ten seconds faster in Ft. William.

http://www.rootsandrain.com/compare.html?i=2949x753

 

[SylentK]

All I know is that Gee seems to be riding moar exremely shimz well. Gwin...not so much. And I don't think it's the bike.

And I do love how watching these super fast doods go mach 5 down super gnarly steep terrain makes me want to go ride my bike.

<tosh.o>"And for that, we thank you!" <\tosh.o>

 

[kickstand]

so, if hill couldn't win on a specialized, and gwin can't win on a specialized, can I win on a specialized?

 

[atrokz]

so, if hill couldn't win on a carbon specialized, and gwin can't win on a carbonz specialized, can I win on a carbonz specialized?

FTFY,

and, no.

 

[Sandwich]

Companies much smaller than Specialized can make a complete aluminum proto/mule in a couples days or less if they need to. The big "S" should be able to punch out some new stays before the daily lunch ride.

Maybe that's what happens when you ship ALL of your production over seas.

but seriously...I think this has all to do with his team and far less to do with his bike. When you hire the best mechanics, tuners, trainers, assistants, phone answerers, etc, you get better riders. I'm guessing there's something missing between TWR and TeamSpec that he hasn't found the answer to. Maybe it's the lack of Monk.

 

[CBJ]

Lets not forget the mental game. Maybe its what its all about much more than anything when you are in the top 10 much more than anything else.

 

[monkeyfcuker]

Who's the dude on the Dirt vid podium shot at about 13 mins in? Seems like be might be enjoying it a little too much.

 

[tuumbaq]

Who's the dude on the Dirt vid podium shot at about 13 mins in? Seems like be might be enjoying it a little too much.

Gee's dad I think

 

[bizutch]

Stik,

Why no commentator's booth? An American English tone would have helped.

Let's start a Warner's best WC comment poll!

 

[monkeyfcuker]

Awesome! Hoping I'll be that stoked on what my kids are doing someday!

 

[Cant Climb]

Who's the dude on the Dirt vid podium shot at about 13 mins in? Seems like be might be enjoying it a little too much.

I think that is the course designer, Italian guy. Yes, looks a bit like Gee's dad.

 

[ods]

"Oh man, he almost released the chocolate hostage" or something to that affect. It was when someone almost hit a tree going mach.

Stik,

Why no commentator's booth? An American English tone would have helped.

Let's start a Warner's best WC comment poll!

 

[bizutch]

That was the one I liked. He blurted another one about "He went down faster than ...." and missed the rest?

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

carbon status proto

 

[bikerpunk98199]

carbon status proto

Pics or it didn't happen

 

[norbar]

Looks to me more like he's trying not to blame the big change in his team, the bike. I like the demo a lot. It's a really fun bike. But anybody who has ridden a new one knows it rides better off the back with a bunch of bike in front of you, and it looks pretty clear with the size change that gwin is compensating for that with WB because sitting back isn't comfortable for him.

Also, I'll add that if you ride tighter, twistier trails, short chainstays could very well ride faster, and that gwin might have been testing faster on his hometown trails then he was on the trek. Anybody who says the demo is outdated doesn't know what they're talking about, but I do think there might be something to it not working well for him.

Heres to some geeking out.

Looking at the average chainstay length of the top 10 bikes
GT 1: 432mm
Devinci 1: 430mm
Santa Cruz 2: 439mm
Lapierr 1: 435mm
Specialized 2: 421mm
Mondraker 2: 440-455
Polygon 1: 435-445

Average CS length of the top 10 is 433.2 assuming mondraker and polygon were in the shortest settings.
If you discount specialized, it jumps up to 436.25. Further, the trek he was previously on had stays with options between 439-441, a wopping 20mm longer. Having owned a session for a few years and getting some ride time on a demo, they ride pretty different in where the sweet spot is. Also, looking at Sam Hill on nukeproof/ironhorse/specialized, we seem to be seeing the same story. Short chainstays may be more fun, but they don't seem to work out as well for Gwin/Hill.

I'm betting we see Gwin with some custom stays at the next WC race.

Gee used to ride custom stays commencal that had 18.25'' CS.

 

[OGRipper]

This just needs to be in here somewhere.

 

[Beef Supreme]

This just needs to be in here somewhere.

Back to the suspension conversation, Remi's Bos stuff looks like it is getting the job done.

 

[4130biker]

I agree- its pretty impressive how its following those giant holes after his huck. He looks totally composed and under control, pretty nuts.

 

[mattmatt86]

The Dirt TV Finals video does a really good job of showing that segment, it shows how steep and rough it was.

 

[Cant Climb]

I used to like when Warner called Gee Atherton - "The Vulcan Downhiller".
Guess he was told not to say that anymore, it just disappeared.

 

[kickstand]

"I'm dripping like an egg sandwich" - warner in reference to how hot is was and sweating his balls off.

 

[bismojo]

carbon status proto

no demo EVO with alfine gearbox 700c ?

 

[Mr Lahey]

The one thing we all agree on regardless of speed is that Gwin is far better dressed this season.

The Trek/ Royal gear is super weak.

 

[intensified]

The one thing we all agree on regardless of speed is that Gwin is far better dressed this season.

The Trek/ Royal gear is super weak.

c'mon it's agree to disagree we almost covered it all except his tire choice

 

[Gary]

I used to like when Warner called Gee Atherton - "The Vulcan Downhiller".
Guess he was told not to say that anymore, it just disappeared.

eh? Told by who? Mr Spock? Can't really see it upsetting anyone else. Gee's been referred to as vulcan for well over a decade, Warner didn't come up with it!.. .. anyway, don't you think it'd get old pretty quick if Warner kept calling out the exact same dialogue each and every round? if not, Knock yourself out:

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/freecaster-mtb-commentary/id441919566?mt=8